UAB Men's Soccer Signs Seven
Seven prospects signed National Letters of Intent and will join the UAB men's soccer team for the 2015 season, head coach Mike Getman announced on Wednesday.
"This recruiting class is full of talented athletes who are also great people," Getman said. "We got exactly what we were looking for. Our team will be bigger and more athletic by adding this group. Because six out of the seven have been to our camps, I feel like we know them that much better. I can't wait to get them on campus in the fall."
Erik Henze, Kyle Lancaster, Clayton McDonald, Eder Mora, Anthony Tokpah, Kevin Wallace and Chris Reichman will all join the squad in 2015.
Henze, a center back from Birmingham, attended Spain Park High School under head coach Matt Hall. He played club soccer for the Briarwood Ambassadors under coach Neil Clement. Henze was a 2014 all-metro team selection, named first team all-county and won the coaches award.
"We have gotten to know Erik through our camps and by watching him with his high school and club teams. He is a true competitor who brings power and fight to every game. He has a very bright future."
Lancaster, the only goalkeeper of the class, hails from Woodstock, Ga. He played high school ball under head coach Robert Holman at Etowah High School, where he was a four-year starter. He was named the Cherokee County Player of the Year as a sophomore. He also played for Georgia United Academy for coach Iggy Moleka and NASA R3PL Team for coach Ray Tomlin. He was named defensive player of the year twice and was selected to the all-county team as a sophomore.
"Kyle has everything we are looking for," Getman said. "He is big, quick, and very technical. He works hard everyday and I expect him to battle for playing time right away."
McDonald, a center midfielder, also hails from Birmingham. He played for head coach Dan DeMasters at Oak Mountain High School, where he was a three-time state finalist and 2015 team captain. He was named first-team all-state, an all-star, and also named to the all-metro team in 2014. McDonald was rated a three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com and played for Vestavia Soccer Club where he was a two-time state champion.
"Clay is big, powerful, and has the skills to control the game," Getman said. "I expect him to be very successful and have an immediate impact on our team."
Mora, a center midfielder and one of two signees from the state of Georgia, was a two-time state champion at Dalton High School. He led the team to back-to-back undefeated seasons, going 44-0-1. He also played four years of high school football and was rated a top-20 linebacker in the state. He was named the Dalton Daily Citizen Player of the Year in 2014 in soccer and earned the same distinction for football following his junior year.
"We have been following Eder since the eighth grade," Getman said. "He has everything we could want in a player. He is strong, tough, skilled and smart. I expect him to play a major role in our team from day one."
Tokpah, a 6-foot-6 forward from Phoenix, Ariz., transfers to UAB from Phoenix College. He helped his team to the 2013 conference championship, which earned a No. 9 national ranking. He scored six goals and eight assists in 2014.
"Anthony has all the tools to be an impact player," Getman said. "He is big, fast, skilled, and scores goals. He has the talent to make a major impact right away."
Wallace, a native of Fulton, Mo., played at Fulton High School under head coach Brad Oestreich. He played club soccer for Sporting Columbia coached by Scott Wissinger. Wallace was named all-district, all-conference and all-region in 2013 and 2014, and was selected to the all-state team in 2014.
"Kevin is a big, strong player with very good skills," Getman said. "He will develop into a top-level striker. I expect him to play a big role in our team."
Reichman, a 5-foot-11 defender from Englewood, Colo., attended Cherry Creek High School. He played for the Colorado Rapids Academy Team coached by Mitch Murray, and was invited to train at the U.S. Soccer Training Center in 2012 and 2013.
"Chris is quick, skilled, and very smart," Getman said. "He can play a number of positions on defense. He has a very bright future and will challenge for playing time right away."
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